DFM
15
December2015
T
he teenage years
are an exciting,
difficult and
challenging time. But what
if you’ve got the added
demand of being part of a
mobile Defence family?
Holly’s in her 18th house.
Tayla’s count is five. Charlie
hasn’t moved as much but
he has still felt the effects of
relocating as a teenager.
“You see new places,
have new experiences and
meet new people,” says
Holly.
Tayla agrees. Her family
moved from a smaller
Defence base to one in a
capital city.
“The move has been
great because I get to do
more things in a bigger city.
I’m going to extension
programs at uni which I
couldn’t do before.”
Friendships are a key part
of teenagers’ lives — while
they’re developing their own
independent identity.
All three use social media
to keep in touch with friends
from previous postings and
Tayla says she Skypes her
friends regularly.
But they agree it’s
important to make friends in
a new location. Charlie and
Holly say it’s easier to make
friends with each move.
“You become more
adaptable and can cope with
change,” says Holly.
Charlie feels he’s mentally
stronger and, because he’s
moved around, he’s had to
learn how to make more
friends, although admits it can
be pretty tough sometimes.
The three teens have
noticed they’re different from
friends who’ve always lived in
the same place.
Tayla says she’s
surprised that many of her
peers “don’t know much
about the other states!”
“We know a lot more
about Australia and the
world.”
Holly has enjoyed seeing
more of Australia than your
average teen.
All three have experienced
the absence of a parent on
deployment.
Charlie had a more
challenging time than most
because at age 13 he took
over managing his dad’s
online business when he
deployed.
“Dad gave me some help
through emails and Skype but
Istillhadtodomostofiton
my own.
“It was great when
he came back because I
could focus on my school
work again”.
Holly, Charlie and Tayla
have a crucial message for
deployed parents — kids
change in the time you’re
away.
“When he first came
back Dad treated me as
I was before he left”,
says Holly.
“He remembered me as
I was seven months before
instead of the capable
person I was,” says Charlie.
“I’d helped out with
the business and did my
school work”.
But all three say it only
took a few days before their
dads recognised the
changes and new maturity
in them.
Working is an important
step to independence but
Defence teens sometimes
have the added challenge
of moving locations and
finding a new job.
Charlie and Holly both
have jobs at a fast food
franchise and say it was
easier to apply for a job in
the same company.
“They knew my skills and
that I knew how to do the job
from my time in my old
town,” says Holly.
And what advice would
they give their 12-year-old
selves about to navigate
those teenage years?
Their answers reveal the
maturity and relaxed
approach of all three teens.
“You’re going to be
worried but don’t!” says
Tayla.
“Life always gets better,”
says Charlie.
“You get used to moving
and (you should) remember
each place is temporary,”
says Holly.
“Be yourself and get the
most of out it”. n
STEPHANIE MCNEILL MEETS THREE ADELAIDE
TEENAGERS WHO’VE NAVIGATED THEIR WAY
THROUGH NUMEROUS MOVES, AND THE ABSENCE
OF PARENTS, BUT WHO REMAIN POSITIVE ABOUT
BEING DEFENCE “KIDS”.
“YOU SEE NEW PLACES,
HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES AND
MEET NEW PEOPLE.”